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LATE IRONS

PHAS COMOM ES

 

AMIP—ATOOM.

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PHASCOLOMYS LATIFRONS. o

Broad-fronted Wombat.

en.

Phascolomys latifrons, Owen in Proc. of Zool. Soc part xii. p. 82
Soc., xill. p.

2.—Waterh. Nat. Hist. of Mamm., vol. i. p. 252

SS ee

Wuen I attempted to write the history of the Phascolomys

Wombat i
| , | ! vat in the preceding pag is
authenticated specimen from the continent of Australia exi : nie ae

sted i -
s in our museums, and I then stated that the

ex aw > ICT: fn ere EC) t t > S} es te Ze f I S | y ; W € the

name of /atifrons ; but during the present year, the skin of a large Wombat from the souther ts of th

; Be ae aad 3 . rn par
continent of Australia has arrived in this country, unfortunately “ sans teeth eae
: ‘ly “sans teeth,

question of there being more than one species of this fo

that could have settled the question as to there being one or two species ; if Me: “a ae
the skin, much difference exists between the island and continental animale In eye ee
now in pie British eu i exc a all others I have seen; in colour too it is equally distinct ; for while
post of the pie mens oe Pasmania are either black, brown, or greyish brown, that from Victoria is of a
hight sandy buff or isabelline solve I cannot then do otherwise than give a figure of this skin, which I
presume to ie an ecu of Frofessor Owen’s Phascolomys latifrons. Surely some of the collectors in
South Australia or Victoria will forward specimens to Europe, and not leave zoologists still in doubt
respecting the existence or non-existence of a second species.

« Of the Broad-fronted Wombat,” says Mr. Waterhouse, “ all that is known is a skull sent from South
Australia to Professor Owen. This skull presents so many marked differences when compared with that of
the Phase. Wombat, that no doubt can be entertained of the existence of two distinct species of Wombats.
[have sought in vain, however, amongst the specimens of Wombats contained in our museums, for an
animal which might be identified with Professor Owen’s new species. In none have I found the incisor
teeth presenting the broadest surface in front, a peculiarity in which the P. /atifrons differs from P. Wombat,
where the broadest part of the incisor is at the side. The new species differs moreover in having the
upper incisors distinctly broader than the lower, whilst in the Common Wombat the upper and lower
incisors are very nearly equal in width, when viewed in front. The following points of distinction presented
by the skull of P. Zatifrons, when compared with that of P. Wombat, are for the most part pointed out in
some notes from the pen of Professor Owen, who has kindly placed them at my disposal :—

“«The skull of Phase. datifrons is rather smaller and broader in proportion to its length; the upper incisors
transverse section ; the convex enamelled surface directed more forward, and longitu-
trihedral, with the enamelled outer surface flat. The
The lower jaw is shorter, more suddenly

have a semi-oval,
dinally substriated. The lower incisors narrower,
first lower molar tooth relatively larger, the last relatively smaller.
- the intermaxillary part of the skull is higher in proportion
ontracted between the foremost molars, and the
The nasal bones are broader, forming

curved behind, and has the symphysis deeper ;
to the width, and less convex externally ; the palate is less ¢
palatine portion of the intermaxillaries is wider and very concave. der, |
rd of the skull. The interorbital part of the cranium Is much

the whole upper surface of the anterior thi ie
both of which are almost

bital ridge and postorbital processes,
d, as in the last-ementioned animal, by two

surface of the cranium ; and the

broader, and presents a well-marked supraor
obsolete in Phasc. Wombat. The temporal fosse are not bounde
nearly parallel ridges, but are continued by a convex tract to the upper
supratympanic depression 1s much larger.’ ”

This, like most other Australian quadrupeds, form
for the supply at least of the Celestial part of the mixed popul
om the “ Ovens and Murray Advertiser’
alk throug

s an article of food, its flesh bemg brought to market

ation of that country, as will be seen by the
h one of the Chinese camps,
‘elestial butcher who lives in Joss-house-street,
d, tethered to the door-frame, a full-
e one of the bystanders. One

wOAN oo and were attracted
“A Noverry.—We happened a few days ago to W
standing outside the shop of a
ig the assemblage, we
: and hauled about by som
t the animal through
its hair and pinching
over. The act we
1g-song sonorous ‘ yabber
: is group, and observed
that the flesh was

by a crowd of mixed people tae
main encampment. ‘Taking a place amo1 yehe
grown Wombat, which was ever and anon turned
the rest of his fellows, pu
s back, examining
legs, and viewed it all
ecompanied by a su
t of the heterogeneot
and learned

its ‘facings ;’ and after
‘ts sides, he lifted the
is received by his
’ that

Chinaman, more curious than
spending some time in stroking down It
round plump body of the Wombat on its fore
setting them all laughing, a
psided, we moved ou Se
We made imquiry,

countrymen as a capital joke,
we did not understand. When it had sul
on an adjoining table pieces of strange-looking mae a
pieces of Wombat offered for sale by the Chinese victualler.

‘re animal much reduced.
. sal Siz the entire anima
The accompanying Plates represent the head of the natural size, and
race anying res repre

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